Influence of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes on mechanical characteristics of glass fiber reinforced polymer composites: An experimental and analytical approach

AbstractAs a consequence of their magnificent performance like mechanical, electrical and chemical properties, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are widely used as a secondary reinforcement in composite field. It has been developed by arc discharging process under atmospheric pressure. Subsequently, MWCNTs doped nano‐composite were developed through hand lay‐up and followed by vacuum bagging techniques. Quasi – isotropic symmetrical laminate of eight layers (0/90)/(±45)/(±45)/(0/90)//(0/90)/(±45)/(±45)/(0/90) were fabricated under room temperature. To fabricate the composite laminates, purified MWCNTs were homogeneously dispersed in glass fiber reinforced epoxy with 0.5%, 1.25%, and 2 wt% loading. Tensile strength, tensile modulus, strain to failure and fracture behavior of unfilled and MWCNTs doped composite laminates were evaluated. Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE‐SEM) was employed to evaluate the structural and morphological characteristics of advanced nano‐composites. Reinforcement effect is found to be more pronounced in 1.25% MWCNTs embedded glass fiber reinforced polymer. This reinforcement effect was corroborated by tensile fractography which depicted by hackle region. Results indicated that tensile strength of 1.25 wt% nano‐composite increased by 47.36% with respect to 0.5 wt% MWCNT doped composites.Highlights Development of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by arcing process. Fabrication of MWCNTs doped glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites. Mechanical characterization of nano‐composites. Modeling of nano‐composites by Halpin‐Tsai equation. Fractrography of nano‐composites in details.